On Location: The Charlotte Area Film Industry

WFAE’s Public Conversation on the local film industry provided insights into how movies, television shows and commercials are cast, shot and produced in the Charlotte area. Panelists and audience members also discussed how the film industry impacts the region’s economy. And the forum explored contrasting views on North Carolina’s financial incentives for the film industry.

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In the last few years, two major television series have made Charlotte their home and the Hunger Games was the biggest blockbuster ever to set up in the region. All that has heightened interest in the debate over whether to extend North Carolina's film incentives. They expire at the end of next year. But neither side is spinning the full story of these incentives, so WFAE begins a two-part series to explain.

One billion dollars. That's what production companies have spent filming in the state since 2007. Now here's another number: $100 million. That's about how much the state has paid those companies in incentives in that time. Good deal, right? Spend $100 million to get one billion? But there's more to the story.

Thirty productions claimed tax credits last year for filming in North Carolina, including some blockbusters like Iron Man 3 and the Hunger Games. Charlotte has become home to a couple of successful TV shows: Homeland and Banshee. By all accounts, the Hollywood business is booming here. But there's a dark cloud on the horizon – come the end of next year, North Carolina's film incentives program is set to expire. That prompted WFAE to take a close look at what filming brings to the state, and what it costs us to get those films here. Our two part series wrapped up Thursday morning and WFAE reporter Julie Rose joined host Mark Rumsey to answer a few questions.